Latinos in the 2016 Election: Washington

This profile provides key demographic information on Latino eligible voters1 and other major groups of eligible voters in Washington.2 All demographic data are based on Pew Research Center tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2014 American Community Survey.3

Hispanics in Washington’s Eligible Voter Population

The Hispanic population in Washington is the 12th largest in the nation. About 858,000 Hispanics reside in Washington, 1.6% of all Hispanics in the United States.

Washington’s population is 12% Hispanic, the 15th largest Hispanic statewide population share nationally.

There are 334,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Washington—the 12th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 6.9 million.

Some 7% of Washington eligible voters are Hispanic, the 17th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%.

Some 39% of Hispanics in Washington are eligible to vote, ranking Washington 35th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, 80% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Eligible voters are defined as U.S. citizens ages 18 and older. Eligible voters are not the same as registered voters. To cast a vote, in all states except North Dakota, an eligible voter must first register to vote. ↩

The terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” are used interchangeably. References to other races and ethnicities are to the non-Hispanic components of those populations. ↩

This statistical profile of eligible voters is based on the Census Bureau’s 2014 American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is the largest household survey in the United States, with a sample of about 3 million addresses. The data used for this statistical profile come from the 2014 ACS Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS), representing a 1% sample of the U.S. population. Like any survey, estimates from the ACS are subject to sampling error and (potentially) measurement error. More information is available on ACS sampling strategy and associated error. ↩

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.